Ethan Wise has always loved being in the water. But until this week the fearless six-year-old couldn't quite swim, leaving mum Amanda biting her nails as she watched her son splash about.
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Swimming lessons were out of the Conder single mother's price range and in-school lessons still carried a fee.
When she was referred to Royal Life Saving ACT's Swim My Way program - a free, two-week learn-to-swim initiative - she jumped at the chance to instill some water safety skills in her son.
“He loves the water and he has no fear, and I need him to understand that water can be dangerous but there’s ways to be safe in it," Ms Wise said.
“He’s now got more water confidence. He can float. He can flip over in the water, so he can go from back to belly. He’s slowly being able to doggy paddle. He can use a kickboard.
"He’s getting there."
More than 80 children from low-income, migrant, non-English speaking or Indigenous families have participated in Royal Life Saving ACT's April school holiday program.
Royal Life Saving ACT chief executive Cherry Bailey said the program aimed to break down barriers and allow equal access to the water.
Participants were aged five to 14 and have learned basic swimming, water safety and lifesaving skills, she said.
Ms Bailey pointed to one parent's experience in watching her daughter learn to swim as evidence of the broader impact it had on children's lives and confidence.
"Thank you for showing me the bravery and capacity inside her little body," the mother said.
"Even though I personally aim high, my thoughts on my daughter were influenced by a deeply embedded culture where girls don’t need to try as hard as boys. So I never pushed her.
"I want to thank the program not only in teaching my children swimming, but in changing my attitude towards my daughter.
"I trust her ability more so ever in the past three days, and I started to treat her as a capable young lady, rather than a baby girl."
Each participants' place was paid for by non-profit community groups.
The bulk of lessons were held at Lakeside Leisure Centre and Canberra International Sports and
Aquatic Centre and the final two days at Pine Island.
